roberts



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. ROBERTS.

Fanning Mill,

Patented May 28. 1850.

N PErERs. Fhalwmm n hur, Walhinglnn. ac.

, 2 Sheets Sheet J. ROBERTS.

Fanning Mill.

Patehted May 28, 1856.

PETERS Plwlvlilho n bm. Washington. D4 (1 JESSE ROBERTS, or PENNS souaanros'r OFFICE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FANNING-MILL.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7,400, dated May 28, 1850.

. To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JEss'E RoBER'rs, ofSpringtowh, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement upon -the WVheat-F an; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact de-.

scription of the construct-ion and operation of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal section, through the center of themachine on the dotted line 00, 00, of Fig. 2. Fig. 2, is a verticaltransverse section on the line a, a, of Fig. 1. Fig. 8, is an elevationof the tail end of the shoe, showing the racks, gage plates,

hooks, confining rods, and ends of the screen and riddle. Fig. 4:, is ahorizontal section on the line 0, 0, of Fig. 2, showing the transversetrough, inclining from either side to the center for discharging thegrain into the inclined central trough, and the apron Z Fig. 5 is a planof a section of one of the riddles, showing the hooks.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

As this fanning machine in all its essential features is constructed ina manner very similar to the Well known wheat fan, and is operated in asimilar manner, and to avoid unnecessary prolixity, I shall confine mydescription to the parts of the machine that I have improved, and whichwill form the subjects of my claims.

A, A, are two vertical racks, secured to the inner end of the shoe, forsupporting the inner ends of the riddles D, D, and screen G in suchmanner that they can be raised or lowered to any required level atpleasure. These racks are composed of two vertical parallel bars intowhich are inserted a number of horizontal pins upon which the riddlesare to rest.

H, H, are two corresponding vertical gage plates arranged at the tailend of the same, and fastened thereto, for supporting the lower end ofthe riddles and screens. These plates are perforated with a number ofholes to admit hooks i fastened to the riddles and screens forsustaining them at any required inclination.

I, I, are two vertical confining rods passed down through horizontalperforated plates J, fastened to the upper portions of the sides of theshoe behind the hooks, after the receiver.

these are inserted into the plates, to prevent them from becomingdisengaged therefrom, before the rods are withdrawn,the lower ends ofthe rods when inserted through the plates I, I, being secured in theouter cross timber of the shoe. screen rests upon the inner lower crosstimber of. the shoe, so as to discharge the grain directly into thetransverse trough.

When it becomes necessary to increase or diminish the angle ofinclination of the riddles and screen the confining rods I must bewithdrawn, and the hooks z changed to a higheror a lower level, and therods again inserted to prevent the hooks from leaving the plates by themotion of the shoe. This arrangement enables the operator to alter theinclination of the screen and riddles with great facility.

My second improvement consists in a combination and arrangement ofinclined troughs, leading toward, and fro-m, the center of the machinefor collecting and discharging the cleaned grain into the measure orreceiver, at the front, and above the level of the floor on which itstands.

T, is an inclined reciprocating grain trough for conducting the cleanedgrain into This trough is made of thin metal, or other suitable materialand is placed inthe center of the frame, upon two parallel transverserollers L, whose gudgeons turn in inclined parallel side timbers M,secured to the frame, and moves back and forth in an opening in the fancase or drum. It is vibrated by connecting the trough T, to a'crank b,by a rod d; which crank is on the end of the axle f, of the shakerpulley g. Said axle being extended to the center of the frame for thatpurpose, having its inner bearing in a block of wood It, secured to theframe.

Q is a transverse tin or sheet iron trough attached to the vibratingshoe immediately beneath the lower end of the cockle screen Gr incliningfrom either side to the center, hav- The lower edge 'of the ing anopening 9, in its bottom, directly over opening to admit a stationaryguide board V attached to the upper surface of the inclined board R overwhich the trough Vibrates during the operation of the machine.

'0 is a block connecting the guide V with the board R.

W, is an inclined board to prevent the screenings from passing over andbeyond the opening S and scattering about theframe.

C, is the feed board within the shoe at the bottom of the hopper forconducting the grain to be screened to the screens D. r S is the shoe.

Z is an apron attached to the center of the inner cross piece S andextending back-- ward and resting upon the central guide board V, forthe purpose of preventing the entrance of the screenings into the upperopen end of the central longitudinal vibrating trough. ,Having thusdescribed the nature of my improvement in the machine for cleaninggrain, and the operation of the same, what cleaned grain from the screenand conduct ing it directly into the measure or bag, as described.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before twosubscribing witnesses.

JESSE ROBERTS.

Witnesses v WM. P. ELLIoT, J OHN H. HARNER.

